The following notice to employees was posted on the CMS website on August 31, 2011:
The Chief Procurement Officer held a hearing today and approved the extension of contracts for all current 90-day emergency managed care vendors through the remainder of the fiscal year, June 30, 2012, for the health plans administered by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (DHFS) and the Department of Central Management Services (CMS).
CMS Benefits will hold a Special Enrollment Period from October 10, 2011, through October 28, 2011, with changes being effective December 1, 2011. This Special Enrollment Period will be offered to all members, but is limited to health carrier changes only - no other changes will be permitted. Members who change health plans will be required to satisfy all health plan and prescription deductibles associated with the new health plan, even if they had already satisfied the deductible under the previous health plan.
All members will be sent a postcard notifying them of the timeframes for this Special Enrollment Period. A health plan change form will be available on this website once it is available. (University of Illinois employees will use NESSIE to make changes during the special enrollment period.)